Dr. Tu at the University of Minnesota Dental School reached an epiphany after attending a FED UP! Rally in Washington D.C. Faces of children and young adults who have died from opioid overdoses were displayed on T-shirts, posters and banners. “These are the faces of my patients” Dr. Tu told the New York Times. He realized that dental offices regularly prescribe opioids to youth and young adults after the common wisdom tooth extraction surgery. Dr. Tu has now pushed the University of Minnesota Dental School to mandate the first line of pain treatment after such surgeries to include common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

The FED UP! Coalition is a national coalition of families who have been ripped apart by opioids.

We have lost loved ones to death or addiction. We are medical experts and advocates who understand that the root cause of the problem is overprescribing. This is a grassroots coalition, all seeking action from the federal government to bring this public health crisis to an end. We accept no money from pharmaceutical companies or their affiliates and 100% of the donations we receive are directly applied to managing the costs of holding our Fed Up! Rallies. We are beholden to no one – except our lost loved ones, or our family members struggling with addiction. We have come together to save lives.

Every year, families, organizations, and allies from across our nation stand together in an alliance at the steps of the White House. Local rallies in nearly every state unify on a single day of raising awareness and demanding action from the federal government. Join the FED UP! movement and #OpioidMarch this year on August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day or organize a rally in your city.